Little Birdie gets chipping!

Littlebirdie

Hey,

I thought this day would never come.....I've got a new job! I can not believe it. Not only is it a promotion but its a blommin good company! I am thrilled to bits.

So I'm moving to the city after all!

I had been through so many interviews that I said if I didnt get this one I needed a 3 month break to get over all the rejection ....its tiring!

Anywho dont need to worry about that

So my pay will go up to about £1800 a month which is a £350 extra a month. BUT housing will be more expensive, I want to pay into the help to buy ISA and I'm going to join a gym just becasue I really enjoy it. I'll also prob go out more too.

I've still got my sensible brain about me though and I can hardly see myself going crazy...I can't go a week without tracking my money so it will be fine.

Offered to do a volunteering shift this sat so that's free travel into the city and free lunch..yipee I'll see a really good friend afterwards also.

So looking this month yeah I may overspend by £20 or so quid but that last year I have saved way more than I bugeted for so screw it ...it'll work out!

Ahhh I can relax

Littlebirdie

Hello,

So 2 days until pay day! I've been looking through my little spending app..

I've spent £123.65 (usually around £100) on travel and £55 (usually around £40) in coffee shops :eek:! You know what I rarely compare how much my spending changes in each category over the months.....I spend ALOT in coffee shops...:eek:. What do I have to show for it? I've spent £75 on alcohol but I dont regret that as I've had lots of fun.

I've put £43.78 extra towards my overdraft. Now I did need to transfer £50 in case I over spent but I'm hoping to put that back. That came out of my holiday fund. Worst case scenario I overspend by £10-20. After the month I have had I'm just not going to be harsh on myself. I've still saved a good aound towards my overdraft and £12 to my emergency fund and £12 to my emergency car repair fund.

I tried so hard to get my new phone through a cashback website but I tried 2 different websites and neither would accept it...I just didnt get it! I even spoke to them on the phone and they could not explain it. So I had to go into the shop. I bought a new iphone on a 0% credit card which I think is for 25 months but I've set up a direct debit to pay off £20 a month over 18 months. Which is shorter than if I was to buy a montly contract. Then my phone bill will only be £10 on top...so I'm roughly spending the same amount as if I got it on contact but over a shorter period.happy with that!
I'll just make sure I recyle it through the cashback website....that has to work :rotfl:

I'm curious how much my expenses will change over the next month or so with the move... it's really hard to plan for. Oh well I'm just gonna have to go for it and make the best of it.

Littlebirdie

Hello,

So it has been a little while but thought might aswell update you all!

So I've moved to London and I'm really happy with the move. I was living at home and eating out for every meal. Not MSE but I have my very good reasons which I would prefer not to disclose on here.

So in terms of finaces well its very up and down.

The month between jobs was VERY expensive and all my own fault. None the less I wrote it all down rather than ignoring it.

I did have £1000 in the savings account but I had to pay >£300 for a work course which I will get back. It's annoying as I was going to take my overdraft down to £1500 and leave £500 in the account for emerencies..none the less I'll get it back. I just need to be patient.

I've also set up 11 accounts to do the whole 'piggy banking thing'. I really hope I can do it.

I think where I havent been very happy recently and having moved to a new area I've been drinking a little more than I would like. I'm aware this needs to change which is the most important thing.

This month I reallllllly want to stay in budget. The only reason I wouldnt is if I spend too much money on alcohol. Here goes, wish me luck....

Littlebirdie

so I've been trying to pay of my final £2000 overdraft and I decided to build up the money in a savings account to earn interest. It's a great idea but when you don't have any other savings it is naturally that account that gets hit. So at this time I only have £600 in it and my predicted time to pay it off was August. Now the money I've taken out I'm paying back in monthly installments and £360 I'll get back from work. I am annoyed that I didn't pay off my overdraft as I went along.

Well long story short on Friday I went into the bank and reduced my overdraft to £1850! Such a good feeling. I want to keep £500 in this account just in case. Now from now on I'm gonna go onto the bank on pay day and reduce my overdraft my £200 each month!

I'm also doing the piggy banking and saving up emergency funds. So I'm feeling positive but realistic about the future of my finances!!

Littlebirdie

So another little update.

Expensive week this week - although doing things that make me happy. A friend came over and I suggested eating in rather than going out. It came to ~£15 whereas eating out would at least come to £20. I bought the food she bought the wine. Also it's such a brill friend that I don't mind spending money with her.

I went out for foods and drinks with someone also. Use to meet up with this person a lot but sadly I think these meet ups are going to dwindle out. None the less I was lucky and got the cheap round!

This week should hopefully be cheap!
I'm going to use my freezer stores for food so hopefully no dinners need to be bought or made. I just need to get some fruit and lunch bits from li@l ( I'm how else to disguise it ha). Not sure what I'm having for lunch. Something cheap that will last me alllll week.

I've been eating really badly this last month but I need to get back on it. I've also been drinking more than usual so that's going hopefully decrease.

I'm going to aim for 4 NS days this week or at least low spend days.

Good news for some reason the thing I wanted to buy on AS@S didn't go through so I'm going to wait till next month. Also I didnt realise I could go through a cash back website so going to do that!

7 days till pay day and hopefully reducing my overdraft by another £200!

ab_saver

It's so satisfying when you can lop big chunks off the overdraft each month - I imagine going in person must be even more so!
I think it's really important to prioritise things that are good for you both physically and mentally - if I'm miserable I tend to spend more money so I'm trying to view things that make me happy as investments.
Good luck with NSDs this week

Littlebirdie

Hey thanks for popping by Absaver!
I'm so glad you agree - it's so easy to feel
guilty about spending money. Today I bought myself a crepe from a pop up market. It's sad but I love crepes as they remind me of holiday! Luckily it isn't there every weekend so I won't be tempted all the time. I have to be sensible though and resisted a £3 (!!!) brownie and probably about 20 other purchases I considered making. Have a good week 😊

Littlebirdie

I am thrilled to bits - the first month of doing the mini savings pots has been a complete success! I've saved over £300. It's such a good feeling knowing I have money saved for Christmas and birthdays, holidays, haircuts etc etc.

Next month will be expensive but to be honest I always start the month being quite nervous about the next month.

I've got lots of exciting things planned which I think is important to do. I'm quite good at saying no to things in advance if I know it will be an expensive month.

I have a holiday coming up so thinking of getting the coach to the airport to save some money. Will look into it over the weekend!

Littlebirdie

So for some reason I'm spending lots at the minute. Only little things but it's all adding up!

I'm a bit grumpy at the minute - that I imagine has a lot to do with it!

I've signed up to webuybooks to make me feel better - hopefully can make money on there!

Got a few things to sell too - just need to get round to it!

ab_saver

Littlebirdie wrote: »

So for some reason I'm spending lots at the minute. Only little things but it's all adding up!

I'm a bit grumpy at the minute - that I imagine has a lot to do with it!

I know that feeling - I'm trying to find constructive things to divert it to e.g. gym. That said you have to have some pleasures, and they can't all be virtuous! This book selling sounds like something constructive and moneysaving. I'm far too attached to my books and if challenged would say why I *need* all of them.